A handful of Christians from the Baltimore area stood in the rain Tuesday morning and handed over a petition with 25,000 signatures to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops–protesting the clergy’s right-slanted activism in the recent election and a lack of focus on the poor.
“The election results prove that the Catholic faithful don’t want any part of your right-wing political crusades,” read the petition. “Please reconsider your priorities and refocus your attention on those whom Jesus called ‘the least of these.”
“I believe the majority of Catholics have spoken and they don’t agree with the position the Bishops have taken,” said Richard Martone, 60, of Alexandria, Va. “They were arrogant to believe they ever controlled our votes.”
Martone and about 10 other Christians, along with representatives from Catholics United and Faithful America, stood in front of the Marriott Waterfront Hotel in Baltimore as bishops from around the country met inside.
James Salt, executive director of Catholics United, handed the petitions and signatures to Rose Gebken, a communications aide at the conference.
The petition was aimed at Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who Faithful America said was leading an archdiocese that was endorsing candidates, according to the organization’s website. The Catholic Church also played a role in campaigning against same-sex marriage referendums in states across the country this election.
The cardinal declined a request for an interview with the Capital News Service, but a spokesman for the cardinal, Don Clemmer, said that Dolan “welcomed criticism” from his followers.
“The Bishops failed miserably by injecting themselves into Mitt Romney’s [presidential campaign].” said Salt, from Catholics United. “As practicing Catholics, we can’t put up with that. We are asking them to put their focus back on Jesus Christ, who said nothing about abortion, contraception or same-sex marriage.”
Jon O’Brien, president of Catholics for Choice, was upset with the church’s actions. Catholics for Choice was not part of the petition but O’Brien has spoken against the church’s political involvement in the past.
“When Catholics put the money into the plate on Sunday, they are not expecting it to go into this losing battle of many of the Republican campaigns against contraception, abortion, same-sex marriage and the Affordable Care Act,” O’Brien said.
The petition collected signatures of Christians from around the country through an online virtual signature form. Many of them, like Martone, were frustrated with the recent leadership of the Catholic Church, and the depths they delved into the politics surrounding last Tuesday’s election, said Michael Sherrard, from Faithful America.
“It is breaking my heart, seeing the Bishops walking away from the good work of Catholics over centuries for their own political gains,” Martone said.
Martone has worshiped at Saint Mary of Sorrows Catholic Church in Fairfax, Va., he said.
By HANNAH MORGAN
Capital News Service
Diana wilson says
My husband and I are both practicing Catholics, but we no longer donate to any Archdiocesan campaigns because of the above, or Catholic Charities USA because they refuse to let same sex couples adopt. We give directly to organizations we know help “the least of these” and do not enter into the political chatter. Unfortunately, there are so many people that need help, we have no problem finding other organizations to donate to.
John Leek says
Bravo! to the 25,000 progressive Catholics who signed the petition, calling out the Bishop’s misguided muddying the separation of church and state. May the petition serve as a wake up call. Theological opposition to a woman’s right to control her own reproductive situation, or to couples of any sexual persuasion to marry is going upstream against the of thinking of most Americans, as explicitly expressed by their votes Nov 6. The Bishops were way behind the Church membership when it came to moving forward to stop pedophile priests. Once again they need to listen and take heed on what the country is saying on issues of contraception and marriage.
Joe Diamond says
Mmmmmmm?
It doesn’t work that way. THE WORD comes down. Within Catholicism petitions, suggestions or the results of studies are just not part of what happens. Note the lack of suggestion boxes in Catholic churches. Clergy are not called by the congregation. They are sent by the Pope. Demonstrators are asked not to step on the flowers and please keep off the grass.
Joe
Robert Sweetman says
No matter what Christian Theology one believes it, surely most people do understand that the Kingdom (Government) of God is a Theocracy and not a Democracy, Right???… I mean Moses Got the Ten Commandments, and not the Ten Suggestions, Right????
I guess that what it means by “Many are called, but Few are Chosen”….
Joe Diamond says
Robert,
I think you have identified the most dangerous aspect of religion as we know it. We “of The Book”; us Abrahamic religions; we Catholics, Protestants, Jews and Muslims seem to need a religious leader to direct our thoughts and actions. The chosen ones you mention tend to become very powerful. They trace their power back to a revelation from God and a calling to do God’s will. They know! And, to varying degrees, they don’t mind telling the unanointed how to live. Their eyes and minds are closed to to all but their book. They rely on their special ability to translate the intentions of God to mortal minds.
One ends up with the choice of either living in a theocracy or walking away.
Joe
Robert Sweetman says
Joe Diamond, I have a tendency to disagree with your there…
Looking throughout the entire History of scriptures, both Old & New, we see that there were certain specific special individuals who were called from on High to specifically do exactly what you speak of, that of being leaders and spiritual guides for their people….But how did the people know they were supposed to follow that certain individual? A Prime example as outlined in the Old Testament is the story of Moses. Placed in the High Houses of Royalty and Privilege, he rose to power as a Temporal Prince in the Egyptian Government, but rebelled and was cast out into the wilderness, and then found a life as a lowly Shepard. Years Later he comes back declaring he’s the Chosen one of Good to deliver his people. So how did the Israelites, who were tightly caught in the snares of Slavery and Bondage come to decide that this guy Moses was who he said he was? They were witness to personal revelation which showed them this man was who he said he was and that he was the the Right Hand of God at that time. The point of the story is that the people didn’t follow him blindly, they found out for themselves that this man was who he said he was. Same things in the New Testament for both the Saviour and his Apostles. People received personal revelation as to who and who not to follow. It just wasn’t some random power grab. There was a process laid out on how to choose the leaders…Proof of that process is that in the New Testament, there are 16 Apostles mentioned. When one was martyred, they chose someone to replace him, until the persecution became so great that the couldn’t fulfill the process anymore. That gift to know that someone was sent as a leader was lost..Hence we have such a wide myriad of Christian beliefs today. Something had been lost..Just my opinion…
Joe Diamond says
Robert,
I try to make my words out of ice cream so it is easier to eat them when necessary. Regarding both the old and new testaments. These books were heavily edited to present a chronological history-like development. They are stories and can be used as a basis for thought and reflection on the various issues they present. But you can’t prove things from them. You become forced into….”it must be true, it is in the bible”……..why is it in the bible?…”because it is true”
The thoughts go in circles like that.
If some potential leader wants to add weight to his words there is nothing like claiming divine authority for one’s ideas. So you get chosen people taking a promised land. Their leaders are not just good generals . They become the hand of God. It worked.
Likewise with Christianity, the philosophy of Jesus and the apostles was already in existence as the Christian era began. What got things going was the Roman persecutions. News of martyrs and miracles spread and converts increased. Again God was opposing an evil and pagan empire. Christians were on God’s side! As the Roman emperors declared themselves to be gods opposition to them by Christians and Jews became automatic. What produced the danger I mentioned earlier, the power thing, was the action of Roman emperor Constantine. In about the third century he dumped the Roman gods and joined the Christians. Christianity became the religion of the Roman Empire.
Christianity became the religion of Rome. Priests became temporal leaders. By one thousand AD the pope was crowning kings in Europe. Charlemagne in France comes to mind. Christendom became as close to a theocracy as one might find. Kings ruled on earth because God in heaven said so. Opposition to this concept is what got the Catholics in Baltimore so angry. They wanted their bishop to stay out of temporal politics. Separation of church and state was built into the Constitution here exactly because of the mess religion had made of European Christendom.
My thoughts,
Joe
Robert Sweetman says
I almost forgot that I had posted in here.. Sorry for the unintended delay….Joe Diamond, I like Ice Cream, and maybe that the correct Metaphor in my attempt to address what you wrote…You have seen what I wrote prior to your last response, but you didn’t understand, Kinda like trying to explain to someone who has never eaten Ice cream before, what it’s like…Your thoughts expound “Stories”, “Thought”, “reflection” and “philosophy”… Apparently a man learned and educated to some degree, But I see nothing in your words speaking about Belief and/or Faith. You say things can’t be proved from “The Stories”. I totally disagree. One example of many is the 12 step recovery programs for addictions which use the principles outlined in “Those Stories”; Principles of Faith, Belief and Works which countless numbers of recovering Alcoholics and Addicts use on a daily basis to escape addictive self destructive behaviors.
I agree Christianity became the religion of Rome, but did it have the Authority to do so? Likewise, same thing today. There are numerous differing sects which call themselves Christian, yet they all differ greatly one one aspect or another. Which ones are right, Which ones are wrong. I firmly believe that if someone truly wants to know, they will find out for themselves through the very talking points you fail to mention in your comments, without relaying on one person saying it’s right and another says it’s not. It’s a matter between themselves and deity…And for me, I, for one know this to be the fact. Don’t know if this helps you understand the Flavor of Ice Cream I’m trying to explain to you.. If not I can bring a quart over and try to explain it in person… 😎
my simple opinion…
Joe Diamond says
Hello Robert,
You are the rare one! You have found a personal belief system that works for you. I know people (friends) in AA that eventually arrive where you describe. I have other friends who never needed or sought out AA or Christianity or any religion who are doing ok. For myself, today was good, yesterday ok & the future has potential.
What I seek to explain are citizens of the world who have not found peace. For some of these both government or religion or just local prejudice has taken control of personal growth. It makes no difference whether this control has demanded conformity to all Christian beliefs or purged all religion from daily life. The danger is that some entity outside the understanding of we, the people, has imposed their beliefs on others.
We may be saying the same thing in different ways.
Peace,
Joe